how to combine like terms? easy question?

6x + 2 = 2x - 8

4x = -8 - 2

x

= -10/4

= -5/2

6x + 2 = 2x - 8

You want to get the x terms on one se and the number terms on the other.

Doing it one step at a time, you could add 8 to each side to get 6x + 10 = 2x

Now add -6x to both sides to get 10 = - 4x, so -5/2 = x

So, combining these moves, you would add 8 - 6x to both sides.

Now, we usually like to have the x terms on the left and the number terms on the right . The easiest way to get this from your example is to add -2x - 2 to both sides to get 4x = -10, which of course is the same result, x = -5/2.

Note that -5/2 = x is exactly the same result as x = -5/2

the best way to remember this is: the amount with the variable goes on the left side of the equal sign, then the amount with the number only goes on the right side of the equal sign and whenever either goes across the equal sign the plus or minus sign that each has changes to the opposite sign. When you have all the amounts with the variable together do the addition or subtraction according to the signs and then do the same on the right side and the result should be correct.

Example:

6x + 2 = 2x - 8

6x - 2x = - 2 - 8

4x = - 10.

that's combining like terms. it always works.

6x + 2 = 2x - 8

6x + 2 (+ 8) = 2x - 8 (+ 8)

6x + 2 + 8 = 2x

6x + 2 + 8 (- 6x) = 2x (- 6x)

2 + 8 = 2x - 6x

10 = -4x

10 (/ -4) = -4x (/ -4)

x = 10 / -4 = -2.5